The protests in Baltimore are centered around the tragic death of Freddie Gray, but they represent much more than just this one incident.
I cannot support violence aimed at police officers or peaceful demonstrators, nor can I justify looting. I also cannot accept the violence inflicted by law enforcement on individuals who are simply exercising their right to protest peacefully. The unjust arrest of a man merely for appearing suspicious is unacceptable. Similarly, I cannot condone the appalling situation where a man’s spine was severed while in police custody, leaving the community searching for answers that are slow to come. Another senseless death of a Black individual is a tragedy that cannot be overlooked.
There is an undeniable weariness within the Black community, stemming from a long history of oppression and neglect. Each incident of injustice seems to provoke a more intense response—why is that? It is the accumulation of frustrations, the years of lies, corruption, poverty, and brutality that have led to this collective exhaustion. Time and again, we are shown that our lives are considered expendable, as if we deserve punishment or even death without consequence.
It is deemed acceptable for us to lie in the streets for hours after an incident. It is permissible for authorities to delay medical assistance or to shoot us without immediate efforts to save our lives. False reports are filed, suggesting we somehow deserved such treatment. Furthermore, the systematic suppression of our peaceful protests feeds into the stereotype that all demonstrations will inevitably turn violent.
Consider the closure of public transportation just as school lets out, preventing children from getting home safely. The narrative that our neighborhoods are overrun by gangs further perpetuates the cycle of violence and misunderstanding, as idle youth fall prey to mob mentality.
What is occurring in Baltimore transcends Freddie Gray’s individual case—it is a manifestation of years of anguish and pain. It is about the illusion of change that has yet to materialize. It encompasses the anguish surrounding wrongful incarceration and the constant fear for the safety of every Black and brown person we know.
Why is it that reactions of Black individuals in response to the loss of life are labeled as “thug behavior,” while similar unrest among white individuals over sports outcomes is simply termed “unrest”? I do not condone evading arrest or resisting law enforcement. I do not support selling loose cigarettes or playing with toy guns. However, pretending that I cannot comprehend the underlying frustrations? That I cannot do.
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In summary, the protests in Baltimore are about more than just one individual; they signify a deep-rooted struggle against systemic oppression and a cry for recognition and change.